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Museum Studies MSc
The Masters in Museum Studies will help you develop the knowledge, understanding and skills required of today’s versatile museum professional. It has been designed in conjunction with employers to meet their needs for well-rounded museum professionals trained in the latest theoretical and practical approaches.
- If you want to develop a career in the cultural and heritage sectors, this programme has been developed for you. It is taught alongside staff from Glasgow Museums and the University’s Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery, and combines academic and practitioner input from a number of relevant disciplines.
- Glasgow’s civic and university collections are the richest and most diverse outside of London and are of international standing. You are granted privileged access to these collections to provide substantial practical experience in object-based research and exhibition development.
- There are great opportunities for you to take work placements at the museums which partner the programme.
Programme overview
- MSc: 12 months full-time; 24 months part-time
You will take two core courses. These courses provide a conceptual and skills base from which you follow one of four specialist strands: Theory and practice; History of collecting and collections; Artefacts and material culture; or Dress and textile histories. Each strand will give you a different mix of optional courses.
Core courses
- Introduction to museology
- Research and professional skills.
To finish the programme, you choose between
- an Exhibition development and research placement course with the Hunterian Gallery
- a dissertation on a specialist topic of your choice.
Strands
Theory and practice
This strand introduces you to the theoretical, contextual, ethical and practical issues involved in curating, engaging, interpreting, developing and managing museum resources. It develops your understanding and skills in contemporary museum issues and exposes you to the many and varied challenges and opportunities facing museums today.
History of collecting and collections
This strand covers a broad range of disciplines and areas of knowledge relating to subjects and periods in the history of collecting and collections. You will be introduced to subjects that will help develop your understanding of issues of connoisseurship and taste, the impact of travel, the politics of display and patterns of collecting and presentation.
Artefacts and material culture
This strand is designed to provide a broad grounding in the fields of artefact and material culture studies. It prepares you at both a theoretical and practical level in the field of specialist artefactual analysis as well as the demands of the museum sector with regard to material culture.
Dress and textile histories
In this strand you will be introduced to subjects that will help you develop your knowledge and understanding in the field of dress and textile histories. You will focus on the curation, interpretation and preservation of dress and textiles in museums, galleries, archives and historic interiors, within both a practical and research environment.
Career prospects
Career opportunities exist in museum curatorship and management within the cultural and heritage sectors.
Further information: Dr Ian G Anderson
email: Ian.G.Anderson@glasgow.ac.uk
Entry requirements for postgraduate taught programmes are a 2.1 Honours degree or equivalent qualification (for example, GPA 3.0 or above) in a relevant subject unless otherwise specified.
English language
If your first language is not English, the University sets a minimum English Language proficiency level. See English Language Requirements.
Further information regarding entry requirements: student.recruitment@glasgow.ac.uk
We ask that you apply online for a postgraduate taught degree. Our system allows you to fill out the standard application form online and submit this to the University within 42 days of starting your application.
You need to read the guide to applying online before starting your application. It will ensure you are ready to proceed, as well as answer many common questions about the process.
Apply now